High School Bowling: Martin boys, girls teams favored in district tournaments

Girls have won 3 consecutive championships, boys have won 2

FILE PHOTO
Martin County’s Shelly Goodwin leads the Tigers’ girls team into the District 12 tournament Monday at Stuart Bowl.

STUART — Are Martin County High School's boys and girls bowling teams once again the teams to beat in the District 12 tournament?

The District 12 tournament is Monday at Stuart Bowl. The top two teams and the top two individuals not on those teams advance to the Florida High School Athletic Association Finals.

Martin County's girls have won three consecutive championships and the boys have won two. But unlike last year, when both Martin County teams came into the tournament as defending state champions and undefeated during the regular season, each team has suffered a loss this year.

"For us, there's no different feeling heading into districts," Martin County coach Tom Baral said. "Both of (teams) are very confident. Sometimes a loss is humbling, but it gets you to put your best effort forward and I think that a loss has actually benefited us.

"I'm sure of it."

Martin County's girls dropped their lone match to Lincoln Park, the boys lost to Sebring — both are in the district field. St. Lucie West Centennial's boys finished one spot ahead of Martin County at the 2013 Kegel High School Challenge a tournament the Centennial girls won.

All should be considered contenders for the district title that Martin County has had a recent stranglehold on. It's just more evidence of the fact that District 12 is one of the best in the state, according to Baral.

Sebring has requested to be in District 12 because of its depth of competitive teams.

"It always has been the strongest district in the state," Baral said. "Based on district scores the past few years, we've had 200 to 400 more pins on qualifiers.

"The competition has only made us stronger."

Baral hopes a change in the way his bowlers compete — using just their strike ball and not alternating for spares — will keep his team focused. Baral said the change has resulted in almost 60 percent more spares made in certain matches.

"This game is all about spares and they are much more confident in their strike ball," Baral said. "When they're picking up spares, they are much more confident in their game. Districts definitely will come down to spares. It will come down the mental game and how they handle themselves in the tournament.

"Young players tend to get a little nervous, but they have to realize it's not about any one player. It's about bowling with confidence."